The first phase of a monumental artificial intelligence (AI) data center project, dubbed "Stargate UAE," is slated to come online in 2026, equipped with an estimated 100,000 Nvidia chips. This ambitious undertaking, part of a deal brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, aims to establish the world's largest set of AI data centers outside the United States. This development follows the recent rescission of previous U.S. restrictions on sending advanced technology to the UAE, which were put in place by President Joe Biden due to concerns about the UAE's ties to China.

The "Stargate UAE" project is a key component of a larger 10-square-mile (26-sq-km) AI data center campus in Abu Dhabi, which is designed to eventually host 5 gigawatts worth of data centers. The initial phase, the 1-gigawatt Stargate UAE project, is a collaborative effort between state-backed UAE firm G42 and a consortium of leading U.S. technology companies including OpenAI, Oracle, Nvidia, and Cisco Systems, alongside Japan’s SoftBank Group.

Advanced Technology at the Core

The participating companies confirmed on Thursday that the Stargate UAE project will leverage Nvidia’s Grace Blackwell GB300 systems. These are currently Nvidia's most advanced AI server offering, highlighting the cutting-edge nature of the infrastructure being deployed. The first 200 megawatts of capacity within the Stargate UAE project are expected to go live in 2026. While the exact number of servers was not disclosed, industry analyst firm TrendForce estimates that GB300 servers, each containing 72 chips and consuming approximately 140-kilowatts of power, could translate to roughly 1,400 servers or 100,000 Nvidia chips for this initial phase.

Larry Ellison, Oracle’s Chief Technology Officer and Chairman, emphasized the transformative potential of the project: "This first-in-the-world platform will enable every UAE government agency and commercial institution to connect their data to the world’s most advanced AI models.”

Policy Shift and Security Concerns

The realization of this project comes after the Trump administration earlier this month rescinded a rule, enacted by President Joe Biden, that would have restricted the flow of AI chips to countries such as the UAE. While the U.S. Commerce Department, responsible for export controls, has not yet announced a replacement for the rescinded rule, it stated last week its intention to convene a working group between the U.S. and UAE. This group will focus on ensuring the project adheres to "robust U.S. security standards and other efforts to responsibly deploy AI infrastructure, both in the UAE and globally." This suggests an ongoing effort to balance strategic partnerships with national security considerations in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI technology.